Construction/agriculture work is 4 times a week (11 AM to 4 PM with lunch in between). You can speak to the supervisors if you want changes because of other issues.
We have been running volunteering activities for more than a decade now. We have a very high rate of returning volunteers. Many have made Maya their permanent homes also. We have reflections and discussions every evening to prepare for the next day. We also organize free hikes, breakfasts on the hilltop, and local dinners once a week. We have a good mix of support staff including the senior and assistant volunteer coordinators along with academic, construction, and agricultural managers. Most importantly, the school is a huge success with very high demand from the locals. Its also the biggest employment provider in the area. A lot of the graduates work with the school and help in its expansion and volunteers get to experience this grassroots development process first-hand.
How can you get involved?
Most of the vegetables we grow is used as materials for school meal.
Currently, we grow pumpkins, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, tomatoes, spinach,
cabbage, beans, and eggplant. We also have fruit trees, including lemon,
orange, avocado, mango, lychee, papaya, and banana. Volunteers in agriculture help with the digging, planting, and
watering of the garden to provide more food for the school.
By
working in agriculture for a school, the volunteers will be able to enjoy the
company of the children during their free time and work closely with skilled
locals.
Despite the agriculture work, volunteers learn and
grow from their experience and the children from Maya Universe Academy. They
gain perspective through the differences in language, culture, and way of living.
Who lives at Maya
- Hostel Children: Students living at the school. Their
villages are too far away to commute every day, so they live at the school in
their own hostel.
- Permanent Volunteers: Nepali volunteers that live at
the school and help run daily operations.
- Temporary Volunteers: Nepali and international
volunteers who stay for both short-term and long-term periods.
- Staff: We have a big group of support staff for students and volunteers.
Location
At the
school, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery as it is surrounded by
hills and mountains. By being further away from big cities, the area is more
quiet and refreshing. We are between Kathmandu and Pokhara also near to chitwan, bandipur and Gorkha.
Dress code
The dress code is casual. However, girls must refrain from
wearing skirts and shorts above knee level and tight leggings (unless worn with
a long top/dress). The shower area is a public
communal area. Girls must wear a lunghi which can
be purchased from school. Boys must wear loose-fitting shorts.
When coming to volunteer at Maya Universe
Academy, you should bring a sleeping bag ( a light one from April to September is
enough) as well as a refillable bottle of water. Do not worry if you forgot
something at home as commodities are available in the village shop. Further
explanation about what you will need during your volunteering program will be shared
with you once enrolling with Maya.
What to bring
- Sleeping bag - from April to September a light sleeping bag is enough.
- Medicines - you need for any chronic illness / usual travel medicine.
- Sandals / flip flops and towels
- Toiler paper (The locals use water and soap)
- Laundry Soap Bar - for your clothes washing.
- Jacket - warm layers between October and February.
- Flashlight - one that plugs in and charges is an added luxury !
- Water bottle
People live with simple means in rural Nepal. You can find everything in the nearby town of damauli. Many students, staff and community members make trips there everyday.
Vaccinations - Check if you need any vaccinations. See
CIWEC Hospital’s recommendation.
